Dry cleaning apparatus and fluid circulating system therefor



March 30, 1937. ANGELUS ET AL 2,075,010

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS AND FLUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 10, 19:54 4 Sheets-Shet 1 ZmakAngelzu y] Damizl [mm 3911a);

AT ORNEY.

March 30, 193 7.

1.. ANGELUS ET AL 2,075,010

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS AND FLUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 60 J4 6.9 as dz o o O 23 a I 3 51 9 139 I v I '36 JJ 0 42 J2 50 40 0 1 O o a rd 11 0 INVENTZZJ' .lozub' Azgefin a BY 04122! Zmrenwflg/lzb;

March 30, 1937. L. ANGELUS 5% AL 2,075,010

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS AND FLUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 10, 1934' 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

. INVENTORJ Za'zuls Argelaa a fimz'allwrmwfiyllr,

BY A ORNEY.

March 30, 1937. ANGELUS ET AL 2,075,010

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS AND FLUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM THEREFOR Filed Aug. 10, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 z INZZNTERJ 01:16 Md 0'' Y Danialflawrmaz 591113;

B W ATT RNEY.

Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE DRY CLEANING APPARATUS AND FLUID CIRCULATING SYSTEM THEREFOR Louis Angelus, New York, and Daniel Lawrence Baylis, Long Island, N. Y. said Baylis assignor to said Angelus 1 Application August 10, 1934, Serial'No. 739,206 Claims. (ores-3s Our present invention relates generally to cleaning. apparatus, and has particular reference to a type of apparatus intended for the so- 5 called dry cleaning" of garments and the like.

One of the main objects of our invention is to provide a unitary and compact installation which is intended to employ and reemploy a fixed quantity of cleaning fluid, except for such minor additional amounts as may be required from time to time to make up for losses.

One of the features of our invention lies in providing an apparatus in which a circulating system for the cleaning fluid is adapted to sub- J'ect the fluid continuously to a clarifying and a filtering action. By the term clarifying we refer to the type of treatment whereby the cleaning fluid is subjected to certain chemicals or equivalent materials; and by the term filtering we refer to the type of treatment whereby the fluid is caused to pass through a porous material, such as a bag, having a, mechanical filtering action.

In accordance with our invention, a circulating system is associated with a cleaning drum and an extracting chamber in a manner whereby selected quantities of filtered and clarified cleaning fluid may be introduced, from time to time, into the cleaning drum and may be withdrawn therefrom and resubjected to the continuous clarifying and filtering treatment.

Another general object of our invention is to provide a device which may be efficiently and conven ntly manipulated and attended by a single ope. ator, enabling him with facility to,subject garments or the like to a cleaning operation, one or more rinsing procedures, and finally to an extracting or drying action.

Among the features of our invention leading 40 to the achievement of the foregoing general objectives is an arrangement whereby a rotatable cleaning drum is mounted above an extracting chamber, and the latter is in turnmounted above the filtering device of the circulating system. The extracting chamber is provided with a top opening, and the cleaning drum is 'provided with a feeding aperture which-may be brought into a position directly above said opening, whereby garments or articles from the cleaning drum may be caused to fall by gravity into the extracting chamber after the cleaning and/or rinsing operations have been completed. Within the extracting chamber is an extracting basket positioned to receive such articles.

By mounting the filtering device beneath the extracting chamber, and by providing a suitable conduit communicating directly from the chamber to the filtering device, it is possible to gain access to the filtering device for cleaning purposes or the like by temporarily feeding all of the cleaning fluid from the circulating system into the cleaning drum and extracting chamber, and redirecting it ultimately, by gravity, back into the circulating system. 0

Another feature of our invention lies in providing a filtering device in the form of a tank in which a filter bag or, preferably, a plurality of -such bags, is arranged, meansbein'g provided for introducing unclean fluid into the interior 5 of the bag or bags and forcing it to pass outwardly through the bag or bags, thereby subjecting it to a mechanical filtering action.

Another feature lies in a unique arrangement of clarifying compartment, through which the cleaning fluid is caused to pass and in which it is mixed with certain suitable chemicals, the fluid and the chemicals then passing together into the filter bags. A characterizing feature of our invention lies in providing the clarifying compartment with a stiletto-like perforated outlet conduit in the bottom wall, whereby a measured charge of the clarifying material may be accommodated within a container which fits snugly into the compartment and whereby the container may be inserted bodily into the compartment and impaled over the outlet conduit.

Other features of our invention lie in the general construction and arrangement of the several parts, whereby a unitary and highly efii- 35 cient apparatus results, having unique capabilities from the standpoint of eiflciently subjecting articles, in considerable quantities, and ,in an economical manner, to the several processes involved in the so-called dry cleaning of garments. 49 We achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a com- 45 plete apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship of the various parts and the ele- 50 ments of the circulating system;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the cleaning drum and illustrating features of its construction;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional 55 I introduced from the cleaning drum to the exview showing the manner in which garments are framework which consists essentially of the two spaced upright frames l0 and H, braced by the I cross-pieces l2, l3, and I4. Inasmuch as the supporting framework forms no direct'part of our invention (except in so far as the relative arrangement of parts is concerned), details of the same in the further description of the apparatus will be omitted, although it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that suitable brackets, supports, and other common structural expedients are employed wherever necessary.

' The apparatus consists essentially of a cleaning drum, an extractor, and a fluid circulating system which clarifies and filters a fixed quantity of fluid.

The cleaning drum I5 is substantially cylindrical and is arranged with its axis horizontal. It ,is mounted for rotational movement about a horizontal axis which is eccentric with respect to the axis of the drum. Upon reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be observed that the drum is mounted between the upper ends of the supports l0 and II, the pivot bearings being designated by the reference numeral I6.

The rotational movement of the drum is carried out by means of a motor l1 and gearing mounted in the box l8. The latter gearing drives a main gear 26 which is mounted in the gear box l9 and is concentric with the axis of rotation of the drum. The transmission includes an idler gear 2| (Figure 8) which is adapted to be withdrawn from the gear train, at will, by means of the control handle 20.

This clutching and declutching arrangement is diagrammatically shown in Figure 8. The idler gear 2|, which is constantly in mesh with the gear 22 (driven from the train of gears in the box I8) is journaled in an arm 23 which is normally urged downwardly by means of the spring 24 and which is adapted to be cammed upwardly by the rear end 25 of the handle 20 when the latter is drawn downwardly. Thus, by drawing the handle 20 down, the driving gear 26 (in the housing i9) is brought into driven relation to the motor l1; and when the handle 20 is thrown upwardly the spring 24 withdraws the idler, 2| from engagement with the gear 26 and thus leaves the drum free of connection with the motor.

The drum is provided with a feeding aperture 21, preferably circular, and arranged in the cylindrical side wall of the drum. A closure 28 is removably held in position over the aperture by means of "the clamping devices 29.

The drum is shown in its normal position in Figure 1, the feeding aperture being inclined obliquely upwards, whereby it is approximately on a level with 'an operators shoulders. At the bottom of the drum is a draining outlet 30 normally kept closed by means of the rotatable valve 3| but adaptedto 'be opened by rotation of this valve.

On the interior ofv the drum,inwardly projecting ribs 32 are provided at spaced intervals, these ribs being arranged longitudinally and being perforated. The function of these ribs is to cause a tumbling of the articles in the drum during the rotation of the latter.

Mounted directly beneath the drum I5 is an extracting chamber or vat 33 provided with a top opening and a flat removable lid or cover 34. Mounted in this chamber is a rotatable extracting basket 35 (see Figure 3) which consists of a metallic shell, substantially cup-shaped, open at the top, and provided with perforations along its lower periphery. This basket is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, and the vertical driving shaft 36 is indicated in Figure 3. Mounted on this shaft, beneath the chamber 33, is a pulley (not shown) which is belt-connected, as at 31, with a driving motor 38 (see Figure 2). The pulley on the shaft 36 is associated with a friction disc, the disc being under the influence of the compression spring 39, so that the basket 35 is never in positively driven connection with the motor 38. This permits a certain amount of slippage to take place when the rotation of the basket is initiated, and it also acts as a safeguard in the event that free rotation of the basket is impeded at any time by articles of clothing or by the hands of an operator.

The basket is very light and rotates at a great speed, since it is the function of the basket to subject the cleaned garments to a centrifugal action which results in extracting most pf the cleaning fiuid from them after the cleaning operation. In order to facilitate the operation of the machine, a brake is provided to enable the operator to bring the basket to a stop more quickly. This brake may consist of a brake shoe 40 mounted on the rear end of a bell crank leverv 4| and adapted to be brought upwardly into engagement with a friction disc 42 carried on the lower end of the shaft 36. The movements of the brake shoe 40 are controlled by the handle 43,whereby the operator may simply grasp the handle 43 and pull it outwardly, i. e., toward him, by a slight degree, thereby stopping the rotation of the basket 35. h

The fluid circulating system consists essentially-of a pump 44, driven by a motor 45, a clarifying compartment 46, and a filtering device 41. The circulating system is best illustrated in Fig-.

ure 3, which, it will be understood, is largely diagrammatic, the actual arrangement of parts,

conduits, valves, etc., being shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

The pump 44 communicates, by conduits 48, 49, 50, and 5|, with the top of the clarifying compartment 46. From the bottom of the latter, a conduit 52 extends to a manifold 53 to which a plurality of filter bags" 54 are connected. These bags, and the manifold 53, are mounted in a tank from the bottom of which conduits 55 and 56 extend back to the inlet end of the pump 44.

A closed circulating circuit is thus provided, whereby a predetermined quantity of cleaning fluid is adapted to be continuously pumped successively through the clarifying compartment 45 and the filtering device 41, and thence back to the pump. This circulating system is provided with *a by-pass 51 between the conduits 49 and 52., There is also provided a main flow valve 58 in the conduit 50, an indicating device 59 in the conduit 5| (with rotating vanes which indicate whether fluid is flowing or not), a pressure gauge 60 in the conduit a trap 8| in the conduit 56, a pressure-relief by-pass 62 .(short- I circuiting the pump), and a draining valve 63.

I the conduit 56. The inner end of the conduit 66 "is mounted for rotation with the drum by means of suitable glands and-packing; and this inner end extends along the end wall of the drum toward the bottom of the drum, as indicated in Figure 3, the term "bottom referring to the wall in which the outlet drain 3| is arranged.

Before describing the operation of the apparatus, reference will be had to Figures 6 and 7.

In Figure 6, we have illustrated one of the filter bags 54. The bag is of material which is adapted to operate as a mechanical filtering medium. One end of it is rolled closed and held sealed by means of a removable clamp 68. The

other end is adapted to be clamped (by means of a clamping arrangement 69) over a head 16, the latter communicating througha union H with the manifold 53. Removal and cleaning of the filter bag is accomplished by disconnecting the union 1i and removing the entire head 10 from the filter tank. Releasing the clamps 68 and 69, the bag 54 is then permitted to be withdrawn and cleaned and dried.

In Figure 7, We have illustrated the clarifying compartment 46. This compartment is provided with a cover 12 adapted to be clamped down by means of the clamping devices 13. Mounted in the bottom wall, in alignment with the outlet conduit 52, is the stiletto-like perforated inner end 14 of the conduit.

The compartment 46 is adapted to contain a measured charge of suitable clarifying and purifying material, and our invention contemplates the accommodation of such a charge (designated by the reference numeral 15) within a container 16, the container being adapted to fit snugly within the compartment 46. When a charge is to be inserted into the circulating system, the cover 12 is removed; the container 16 is impaled downwardly over the outlet conduit 14, as indicated in Figure 7; the upper cover of the container 16 is then removed and discarded; and the cover 12 of the compartment 46 is then replaced. The flow of fluid through the conduit 5! into the compartment 46 is thereby constrained to pass through the charge 15, picking up the clarifying chemical, and thence through the perforations in the stiletto-like inner end of the conduit 52. This flow is indicated by arrows int Figure 7.

The procedure in subjecting articles or garments to a dry cleaning process is as follows.

The operator first turns on the electric switch 11 which starts the motor 45 and the pump 44. The handle 18 controls the valve 64, and the handle 19 controls the valve 61, these handles being easily accessible to the operator, as shown in Figure l. When the switch .11 is turned on, these handles are positioned to permit a flow of fluid from the pump through the clarifying compartment and the filter bags. While the flow of fluid is being established, the operator removes the cover of the cleaning drum and inserts the articlesto be cleaned. He then replaces the cover 28 and clamps it tight. A predetermined quantity of the filtered fluid is now ready to be introduced into the cleaning drum, and this is accomplished by manipulating handle 18 so that valve 64 sealsconduit 50 and opens conduit 66. This causes filtered fluid to be directed upwardly through conduit 65 into the drum I5. During this operation, a vent pipe 81 permits the air in the drum to pass into the filtertank. During this feeding operation, the circulation through the filtering device 41 is maintained by virtue-of the by-pass 51, thereby preventing collapse of the bags 54.

When the desired quantity of fluid is in the cleaning drum, the valve 64 is again manipulated to restore it to its initial position, and the drum is now ready to be set into rotation.

The rotation of the drum is accomplished by moving the handle 20 downwardly and by starting the motor I1. -While the rotation of the drum may, if desired, be carried on in one di-, rection, continuously, we prefer to provide an automatic reversing mechanism 80 (driven by a motor 8|) which causes the drum to rotate'for a period of time first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. The duration of tumbling of articles in the drum is controlled by means of the timing switch 82 which controls the duration of operation of the motor I1.

During the rotative movements of the cleaning drum, the garments are tumbled around by virtue of the eccentric mounting of the drum and by virtue of the projecting ribs 32. This tumbling subjects the articles to a thorough contact with the cleaning fluid in the drum and results in subjecting the articles to a thorough cleaning operation.

The drum is then brought to its normal position, and the handle 19 is operated to turn the valve 61 so as to close the conduit 55 and open the conduit 66. As a result, the dirty fluid is withdrawn from the drum I5 and immediately directed by the pump through the clarifying compartment 46, and into the filtering device 41. When all the fluid has been withdrawn (as will be observed at the indicator 59) the operator can, if he so desires, subject the articles to a rinsing operation by introducing a further charge of filtered fluid into the drum and repeating the foregoing operations.

Whenever the operator deems the cleaning operation within the drum I5 to be completed, he removes the cover 34 of the extracting chamber, removes the cover 28 of the drum, and swings the drum into the position of Figure 5, whereby the articles may fall by gravity from the drum into the extracting basket. The drum may be momentarily locked in this position, or in any position for that matter, by merely lowering the handle 20 and bringing the gear 26 into meshed relation to the gear 2| and the gears of the gear train from the motor I1. As long as the motor is not running, this interengaigement of the gears serves as a convenient locking arrangement to hold the drum in any selected position.

When the articles have been deposited in the extracting basket, the cover 34 is replaced, and the switch 83 is'thrown to start the motor 38. This sets the extracting basket into rotation and subjects the articles to a centrifugal action. During this procedure, the cleaning drum may be restored to its initial position and a new batch of articles may be fed thereto.

When the extractingoperation is completed, the cover 34 is again removed from the extract ing chamber, and-the articles are withdrawn and hung up in a deodorizing chamber, subsequently,

5' to be properly treated to a finishing operation.

Ourinvention is of such acharacter that the filter bags may be conveniently removed and cleaned at periodic intervals without the removal of any of the fixed quantity of fluid with which the apparatus is supplied. To accomplish this object, we provide a special conduit 84 communicating directly between the extracting chamber 33 and the tank of the filtering device 41. A valve 85 in this conduit is first closed; the cover 34 of the extracting chamber is removed; the

drum is brought into its normal position; and the valve 3| is opened. The handle 18 is then manipulated so as to open conduit 65; and the pump thereupon operates to withdraw all the cleaning 20 fluid from the circulating system and .feed it through the conduit 65 into the drum i5. Initially, the fluid will pass freely through the drain 30 into the chamber 33. When this chamber is sufficiently filled, the valve 3| is rotated,-and the balance of the fluid accumulates temporarily in the drum IS. The drum l5 and the chamber 33 thus serve as temporary storage. compartments for'the fluid to permit ready accss to the filtering tank and to the bags therein. The bags may be readily reached by merely removing the cover of the filter tank, this cover being normally held closed by the clamping devices 86. When the filtei'ing device is ready to be restored to operation, it is merely necessary to open the valve 3| and 85 the valve 35, whereby all the fluid returns by gravity into the filtering device 41.

One of the features of the embodiment herein illustrated lies in the fact that the filter tank is not of the heavy and necessarily fluid-tight na- 40 tur'e which is ordinarily employed in dry cleaning systems.

' It will be understood that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of our invention,

may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 7 i. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a rotatable substantially cylindrical cleaning drum mounted 55 with its axis horizontal, means for rotating the drum about an eccentric horizontal axis extending through the drum, said drum being provided with a feeding aperture in the region of the cylindrical wall which'is nearer to the axis of rotation, an extracting chamber directly beneath said drum and provided with a top opening, means for bringing said aperture into a position directly above and in registry with said chamber opening so that articles may fall by'grav- *ity from said drum into said chamber, and a rotatable extracting basket in said chamber positioned to receive said articles.

2. As an element of a dry cleaning apparatus, a substantially cylindxicalpleaning drum adapted to receive cleaning fluid and mounted with its axis horizontal, and means for rotating the drum about an eccentric horizontal axis extending through the drum. g

3. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a substantially cylindrical cleaning drum mounted with its axis horizontal, the drum being provided with a feeding aperture in the'cylindrical wall, means for rotating the drum about an eccentric horizontal axis extending through the drum .and oflset from the cylinder axis toward said feeding aperture, and means for locking the drum against movement in a position in which the aperture is directed downwa'rdly. I

4.. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a substantially cylindrical cleaning drum mounted with its axis horizontal, the drum being provided with a feeding aperture in the cylindrical wall, means for rotating the drum about an eccentric horizontal axis extending through the drum and offset from the cylinder axis toward,said feeding aperture, means for locking the drum against movement in a position in which the aperture is directed downwardly, and an extracting chamber positioned directly beneath the drum to receive the drum contents by gravity when the drum is locked against movement, as aforesaid. 5. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a cleaning drum, an extracting chamber beneath the drum, and a circulating system for cleaning fluid comprising a pump, a clarifying compartment, and a filtering device, said filtering device being mounted beneath said chamber, means for continuously'pumping fluid successively through said compartment and filtering device, a drum feeding 45 conduit for directing a selected quantity of fluid from the filtering device to said drum, a drumdraining conduit for withdrawing fluid from the drum to said compartment, an outlet in the drum adapted to be positioned over said extracting chamber, and a scalable conduit from said chamber directly to said filtering device, whereby fluid from said drum,may, if desired, be returned by gravity through said chamber to said filtering device independently of said drum-draining conduit.

LOUIS AN GELUS. DANIEL L. BAYLIS. 

